Thursday, October 19, 2006

Monday, October 16, 2006

Here's some of the parts about Saw III...but definitely check out the whole thing.

DC: Well, I know you can’t get into too many details, and I wouldn’t ask you for them, but what can you say about Saw III?

SS: It’s a love story and a tragedy.

DC: Not the response I was expecting!

SS: It’s different than either Saw or Saw II .

DC: One of the things that I think is interesting about these movies is that, as opposed to the average Jason Voorhees kill-fest, the Saw series is driven by the philosophy behind the killing as much as the revealing of the elaborate traps. Whether that philosophy is a warped one or not, it is still a philosophy that creates believable motivation in the set-ups to the killings, rather than just setting the table for mindless, unfathomable bloodletting.

SS: There’s a genuine sort of search for truth that goes on in every department, from writing to directing, to acting, to props, to costumes, painting, set design, all of it.

DC: And it translates, certainly in Saw II, into a more interesting beast. This philosophy, if you will, can be refigured through a host of different characters and set-ups, so each new movie has the potential to set itself apart from a narrative standpoint. The most shocking things in that second movie were the discoveries the audience made about your character. We were witness, from the first movie, to how you were transformed-- in a way that’s not acceptable in standardized storytelling—not into angel of mercy in the typical sense, but a damaged angel, one who is just forming her own warped take on the mind-set of the most influential person in her life.

SS: Absolutely.

DC: Yet, in reading people who have written about the first two movies, particularly those who don’t seem to think much of them, there sometimes seems to be a set of preconceptions working there. Those who disdain the genre, or the specific subset of horror that has come to be known as “torture porn,” are often lumping the Saw movies into categories that don’t indicate just how transgressive the Saw movies, particularly II, actually are. Not just in terms of gore, either, but in terms of violating some of the basic tenets of the genre, like being so up front about imploring or otherwise insisting that the audience examines why it wants to see some of what it has come to see, or why it’s so easy to understand, and perhaps even, to some degree, empathize with the Jigsaw philosophy on a basic level. This is a disturbing route for the series to take, but a meaty one, and one that doesn’t let the audience off the hook in terms of its level of enjoyment. And it bodes well, I think, for Saw III.

SS: The movie is serving something bigger than any one individual part of it, whether that’s the director’s vision or the storytelling of the writer or the talents of the actors. So the series has to change its shape and form to grow, which is a bizarre and unlikely occurrence, especially in this marketplace.

DC: It’s the antithesis of what usually happens with a sequel-driven franchise which is, “Let’s make another one, and let’s make it as close to the last one as we possibly can.”

SS: Right. Keep the formula, and just make it “more”—bigger, gorier.

DC: I remember a couple of reviewers writing about Saw II who were pissed that the movie didn’t travel exactly the same road as the first one.

SS: Well, they should get ready to get pissed again!

DC: What was it like for you to find out what direction this character, Amanda, was going to go? And what kind of reaction did you get from people who either liked, or didn’t like, the second movie, based on the trajectory of your character?

SS: I haven’t yet encountered anyone who had a negative reaction personally. And Saw III evolves Amanda in ways that, as an actor, you just dream of. It’s like the character arc that never ends. I went from being an actress who typically had one scene or two scenes in big movies—the joke was, my characters never had an arc—and now the half-a-day’s work I do on the independent, low-budget horror movie turns into the arc that keeps on giving. In Saw III you really get to know Amanda, and there actually is a person here to get to know.

DC: To my eye, that was clear from the first movie, and so for me the way your role keeps expanding, in size and importance, in each movie feels like a kind of vindication of what I saw in that first wonderful performance you gave in Saw.

SS: It’s weird. It’s like there’s some kind of fairy dust on it, as if I’d mapped the whole thing out, starting with part one. Everything is connected, and it’s beyond me. There’s some bigger something at play—luck, or whatever.

DC: In that first movie, just in that two minutes you were on screen, there was a concentration of some kind of acting energy or essence that I don’t think the movie exploited. If it had, you would have had a much bigger part.

SS: And it’s interesting, too, how Saw II, of all the things it could have been—I happened to get pregnant. It wasn’t planned. So I had a four-month-old pregnant body, and I decided to chop my hair in a crazy manner. As an actor I could have just gone for the gold in that part. I could have spruced up my physical appearance, given myself more lines. But instead I took half my lines away from myself—“Do I really have to say this here, or can I just--” You know, I purposefully was very subdued. Well, the hairstyle wasn’t so subdued, but it wasn’t like—Like, her sexuality was totally repressed. And I had no idea that there would be any kind of pay-off for any of that in Saw III. Maybe it was because I was four months pregnant that I just wasn’t concerned, I had bigger things on my mind, I don’t know. But it’s been an actor’s dream to be able to connect it all in a meaningful way.

DC: There’s integrity in your performance in the second movie, too. You did some great things in Saw, and looking at the second movie you might think, “Okay, she’s dialing it down here. The performance isn’t as distinct as it was in the previous film.” And it only becomes clear as the movie ends that there’s a rationale for that, and in a way your entire performance in Saw II is still rooted in the very unlikely choices you made in the first film to not wave your arms and call so much attention to yourself, to not chew the scenery. I actually thought it was rather brave to basically give yourself to the concept, and to the other actors.

SS: That’s what we were talking about. And maybe that’s the fairy dust of the Saw franchise—everyone sees to be serving something bigger than the individual.

DC: If you looked back on everything that you’ve been able to do so far with your acting, is there one project that you feel particularly proud of, one that touched you in a singular way that made it more special than the others?

SS: Mmm… probably Saw III. Isn’t that a silly answer?

DC: Not necessarily, because I see it coming from a place that’s clearly not marked “junket promotion sound bite.”

SS: (Laughs) That didn’t even enter my mind! If anything, I’d move against that kind of answer, especially at this stage. But I had the time of my life—personally, professionally. I had both my kids with me. I had a starring role, so I was really involved in the process on many different levels. It was challenging, frightening, no pun intended, and fun.

DC: Tell me a little about working with Darren Bousman again on Saw III.

SS: I think the world will taste many fruits of The Great Darren Bousman’s talents-- he likes to be referred to as The Great Darren Bousman. (Laughs) Darren was a total unknown, a wild card, for Saw II. I remember talking to James Wan (director and co-writer of Saw) and saying, “Oh, my God, do you think this guy can pull it off?” And not only did he pull it off, but he was a first-time director and he put his own stamp on a franchise. Well, I guess it wasn’t a franchise then, but he sure helped make it one. I mean, he stands tall on the shoulders of many talented people, but he knows it, and that’s pretty rare. It was smart on the producers’ part to put the same team behind him for Saw III. But even in Saw III he outdid himself from the previous movie. He put a new stamp on the series. He could have thought, “It’s a fluke. This movie I did was a success and I’m taking a chance doing part three, so I’d better just stick to the same formula.” But instead, he fought every good fight. I mean, there were all-out creative battles, and that happens in a worthy creative endeavor. But, intuitively, he knew what to fight for, and he fought.

DC: Did he collaborate on the script again, with James Wan and Leigh Whannell?

SS: Yeah, they all worked together on the initial concept, and then Darren and Leigh really got in there and reworked it together. Then Tobin and I got up to Toronto and started doing our own rehearsals and research. We had to fill in the life of these characters’ relationship—everything that will never be addressed in the script but has to be there for the movie to work. And so a lot of that ended up influencing the script in different ways—stuff that Darren and Leigh couldn’t have come up with just sitting in a room, talking. It’s stuff that came out of these characters. Darren told me that one of his favorite scenes in the movie is a scene that came out of just that process—a character moment with Amanda. And he said it’s one of his favorite scenes because it has nothing to do with the story. Right, and it’ll probably end up on the editing room floor! (Laughs) But he loved it because it’s purely a character moment.

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Wow - It has been FOREVER since last time we all talked. I am sorry that I have been out of touch, but this year has been killer!!! Saw III stands to be one WILD ride!!!! Currently I am sitting here at Deluxe Toronto, working on our FINAL AUDIO MiX for the film. It is crazy how much sound design and score really add to a picture. I was disgusted before - now I am just plain appalled!!! There are some things in this film that will make even the hard core squeemish!!!!A lot of you keep emailing me asking if I am proud. The answer.COULDN'T BE HAPPIER.It was so great working with the same crew - it was basically like none of us ever left! And now, here I am, a year later - back on same Mix stage - with the same Mixers!!!These last months have been intense. A lot of people don't realize that once a film stops shooting it is NO WHERE NEAR over.Kevin (the editor) and myself had only two months to get a locked picture of the film. Then we have to submit that to the producers for notes. Once we reedit based on the producers notes, we have to resubmit - this time to the MPAA. Obviously the MPAA had some issues with our film so we have to reedit based on their concerns. Once the MPAA and producers sign off we have to get the film over to the sounddesign team to start working their magic. THEN, I get on a planeto fly to Los Angeles, and meet with SUPER GENIUS Charlie Clouser and we sit though and watch the film and discuss music. BACK to Toronto after meeting with Charlie to now meet with our special effects team about what post production effects we will be needing. Then starts ADR - ADR is when you rerecord an actor due to unusable production audio. So back on a plane I go, first to Montreal to meet with Angus- then to LA to catch up with Tobin, Shawnee, and Bahar.So here I am, back in Toronto, a little under the weather, and much exhausted working on the SOUND MIX!!!!Well guys, it's great to be back, and start looking for more bloggs - I will keep you all up to date on the status on the film, and what is going on!!!Stay sick and twisted,dlb

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Crank is an upcoming 2006 action/thriller film, written and directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. The Lions Gate Films produced film stars Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Efren Ramirez, and Dwight Yoakam and will debut on September 1, 2006. The film will be rated 'R' for strong violence, pervasive language, sexuality, nudity, and drug use.

I suggest all of you to see it for the opening scene of the first movie and just because the movie looks awesome!

Friday, August 04, 2006

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Lionsgate Home Entertainment has announced Saw II: 2-Disc Uncut Edition for release on October 24th, according to Davis DVD. Presented with an anamorphic widescreen transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1 EX and DTS-ES 6.1 Surround, the set includes an audio commentary with series creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell, a second commentary with director Darren Lynn Bousman, production designer David Hackl and editor Kevin Greutert, "Making of the Saw Story," "Making of Saw II," "Jigsaw" and "A Tribute To Gregg Hoffman" featurettes, director Darren Bousman's short film "Zombies" and bonus trailers. Retail will be $26.98. Read on for a look at the cover art...

Saturday, July 22, 2006

Hey everyone! It's the end of july and you know what that means (if its the same tradition as last year) The SAW news is going to start to pour in (well faster than it has been) let me go over some things:

Thursday, July 20, 2006

4:24PM - Director Darren Bousman first… Escorted by two incredibly good looking nurses up to his seat. Writer of Saw I and II, Leigh Whannell. Producers Oren Koules and Mark Burg. Shawnee Smith who played Amanda. And lastly, Tobin Bell as Jigsaw.

4:25PM - No spoiler and no secret questions - they will not be answered

4:26PM - First question for Tobin about “how to approach Jigsaw movie after movie” yet make him human.Tobin says he “reads the script very carefully” and tries to never sell out the characters he plays. He always tries to think about what causes someone, or what the details are, that permit him to say the lines the writer says. As in “what does he mean by that.”

Question for Shawnee: Shooting for one half day for Saw, did you have an idea that you’d come back and be the big role.Shawnee: I didn’t have an idea or I wouldn’t have put that cheesy cougar tattoo on my left shoulder.

Question for Darren: How do you approach directing Saw II and III?He said it’s a tough line to walk from after Saw I and coming into Saw II not copy what he did in the first one but not change it entirely and therefore it was tough to find a balance of it. In Saw III they’ve taken more depature from it but have still kept some of the same. “Saw III makes Saw II look like a Disney film” because it is so intense.

Question for Leigh: How do you keep it fresh for Saw III?In Saw I it’s about who’s doing it him; once that secret was out, what do they do now, what’s the new version. It’s another degree of difficulty then for Saw III going above and beyond the Saw II and making new surprises and surprising people who’ve seen a lot.

Oren talking about their experience with Saw I first at Sundance and how sold out it was and the reactions that it had. Lionsgate didn’t believe it would test as well as it did.

4:34PM - Time for audience Q&A.

1 - When Danny Glover’s character follows patsy back to the hide out, how did patsy know where the bathroom was?He was in on it. There were little secrets in Saw III that answer these type of questions. He was more involved with Jigsaw than anyone else. And they say “the answer is in Saw III.”

2 - A guy was showing him the original t-shirt and boxers that Tobin wore in the first movie that had and wanted to reunite them.

3 - Question for Tobin Bell: what do you love most about playing Jigsaw?He likes trying to bring some dimension to him; likes trying to find out what makes him tick and do the things that he does and what his every day life is like. He’s a mechanical engineer and philosopher and scientist - he’s a very interesting man.

4 - Favorite movie trap from first two films?He liked the needle pit.

5 - Marketing question with the posters. Is there a fine line that they have to go through with the gore on them?Tim Faylan - the marketing guru.

6 - Asking about if Leigh Whannell can believe about the success of Saw? Does he feel like the “Australian underddog”?He says it’s amazing. Their original aim was to shoot it on $5000 in Australia. He said it’s amazing that it happened and got this big and that they got to shoot in the States. He can’t believe the hype they have in this audience and everything. “Thanks to you guys.” Applause.

7 - If Darren could be in a trap, which would it be?Darren didn’t say but Leigh answered with saying that it should be the jaw trap so he can keep his mouth shut.

8 - How does Jigsaw differ from his other roles?He said he doesn’t approach Jigsaw differently from any other role he plays. Talking about his role in The Nordic…

4:47PM - World premier of Saw III clip starting momentarily.

Description: A guy chained up with chains hooked via rings all over him. Through the mouth. Blood dripping over. TV screen turns on with Jigsaw saying this game is being played in the jail cell and talking about how he has been going to jail over and over. How far will he go to break those chains. Live or die, make your choice. Rips the chains off to get to a bomb nearby on the table. An angry screaming fit ripping the chains off from his body. He pulls them all out except for the one in his mouth as it ticks to 0. Then fades to “Saw III.” INTENSE!

We're still rocking here at the San Diego Comic Con and we've got more great news for you horror hounds live from the event.Writer Leigh Whannell tells Bloody-Disgusting that James Wan has finally finished editing his second feature film, which is now entitled 'Dead Silence'. He also tells B-D that the delay was caused by position changes in Universal... watch for the film to hit theaters next year.

I know alot of you dont want this to become a crappy franchise but as long as they have the twists and more from the first two movies in the next two. I wont care =D

We're here sweating our asses off at this year's San Diego Comic Con trying to keep you guys posted on all of the major horror announcements... and here's a whopper of one. B-D reporter Slice reports live from the event that Lionsgate will instantly begin prepping 'Saw 4' if the third film in the franchise is a sucess, which I'm sure it will be. Watch this spot for more news as it comes in live from the con!!! 'Saw 3' hits theaters this October.

Sunday, July 09, 2006

If you remember last year, Lionsgate released a teaser for Saw II at the San Diego Comic Con, which I would call a complete disaster. The font looked horrid and everything was pixelated. What I'm told is that we'll once again see a teaser at this year's Comic Con, but a lot more time into it than last year's rush job. In addition, the official MySpace page for Saw III indicates that we'll be seeing the final trailer for the Darren Bousman directed film on August 4th, attached to prints of The Descent. The third installment in Lionsgate's mega-franchise, which hits theaters October 27, stars Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Bahar Soomekh, Angus Macfadyen and Dina Meyer.

Friday, July 07, 2006

Hey guys - I thought I would drop in and say hello! I am sitting here in the edit room working on the last five minutes of the film! Even I get chills when I see it! Being a horror fan - I really think you guys will dig this! Scary, and intense - and yes for you gore hounds - there is blood!

Wanted to give everyone an update - my bloggs should be starting up again within the week - so check there for more updates.

Also if any of you are in California area, myself and Leigh will be at Comic-Con this year! Stop by, say hello!

Alright back to the film October 27th is right around the corner!

And to quote Jigsaw in Saw 3... "Suffering... You haven't seen anything yet!"

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

It’s a solid stand-alone installment that’s also for the fans; it’s pretty damn ballsy, even for year already caked in blood; and it’s guaranteed to give the MPAA some grief. These are just a few things Fango has already heard about SAW III, the anticipated sequel due in theaters October 27 from Lionsgate, and who better to confirm it all than its director Darren Lynn Bousman (pictured on the set of his previous SAW II), who dropped Fango a line with a progress report.

Having taken a much-needed extended weekend before entering the editing suite for the first time today, Bousman speaks highly of the third entry’s 30-day shoot in Canada. “I’m so surprised by how quickly everything came together for this and how smoothly it went,” Bousman says elatedly. “I learned a lot of mistakes from SAW II, and part three is definitely not a copy of the first two films. It’s very, very different.”

Actors Bahar (CRASH) Soomekh and Angus (EQUILIBRIUM) Macfadyen find themselves cast as Jigsaw’s latest victims. The former plays a doctor who must keep the ailing killer (encoring Tobin Bell) alive just long enough to see Macfadyen’s Jeff get out of one of Jigsaw’s fiendish and thought-provoking games. Dina Meyer and Shawnee Smith also make their return to the series which has already grossed over $200 million in worldwide theatrical ticket sales.

“Fans don’t realize how much say they have in this franchise,” says Bousman, sounding rather like a carnival barker luring ticket buyers into his refurbished haunted attraction. “This movie is for them. Last year’s film was a balls-to-the-wall gorefest and it didn’t have too many scares. I believe SAW III has a lot more of what made both previous movies good—we took the best elements of each and combined them. It’s got a lot more scares in it and has so many Easter eggs for the fans to discover. For those who really know the franchise well, they’re going to be blown away by some of the things we did this year.”

As for the gore quotient, Bousman insists on skirting the intricate details, yet he is optimistic that what will make the final cut will be weighted by a healthy dose of realism. “We’ll see what remains. All I can say is SAW III is the real deal and it’s not f’in around. I don’t get disgusted easily; I think the time that happened with a movie was when I watched CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. There’s one scene in that movie that made me squeamish—and there were about four separate occasions on the [SAW III] shoot that made me want to throw up.” —Ryan Rotten

Sunday, June 11, 2006

TORONTO - It takes a while to puzzle through what it is we're looking at, here on the Toronto set of the low-budget, high-concept gore-fest Saw III.

Deep in the latest warren of deathtraps conceived by murderous mastermind Jigsaw, behind a door painted with the words "here's your chance," the device standing in front of us looks like a crucifix fashioned out of steel beams, clamps, cables, motors and gears. There's blood (or the special effects version thereof) pooled around the base of it, and a few chunks of disturbingly lifelike ersatz flesh.

Arms get strapped in here, feet get wedged in there, head goes inside this clamp contraption. But what are the gears for? When this thing is powered up, won't the gears just rotate the clamps in place and make the victim's ... oh. Okay. Got it.

You know the famous scene in The Exorcist, where Linda Blair's head spins a full 360 degrees? Imagine a contraption that does that to you without the benefit of satanic possession. And to your arms and legs, too, twisting them in their sockets until flesh, muscle and bone rip and snap like wet tree bark.

Saw III, which wraps shooting this month at Toronto's Cinespace Film Studios, is a homecoming of sorts for the monstrously successful horror franchise.

"We shot Saw II here in Toronto, in the same studio, same crew. So by now it's like family," said Leigh Whannell, co-creator of the Saw franchise with fellow Australian filmmaker James Wan.

"It's another day at the office, breaking people's limbs off, body parts flying everywhere," Whannell said last week during an interview on set. "It's good times."

The affable Aussie's demeanor belies the unspeakable stuff going on a dozen metres away. Literally unspeakable - access to the set is strictly controlled, and no one's talking about the film's array of deathtraps and plot twists, for fear of spoiling the fun when the film hits theatres this Halloween.

Other than the clampy contraption, all we are shown are the sets for Jigsaw's creepy, mannequin-festooned lair and a decrepit meat packing facility (complete with disemboweled hogs hung from hooks) where much of the film takes place.

Then we're hurried off the set, though we can hear director Darren Lynn Bousman call "action!", followed by the high-pitched whine of a drill. And screaming. That can't be good.

This much we know about Saw III: The terminally ill Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) is determined to play one more sick game with a new group of victims. With the help of his protege (Shawnee Smith), Jigsaw has kidnapped a beautiful young doctor (Bahar Soomekh) to keep him alive while he leads a grieving father (Angus Macfadyen) into a new den of horrors.

The hero's peril is much more than physical, though. Jigsaw's chosen victims are the people responsible for death of Macfadyen's character's son. He can choose to help them escape Jigsaw's devious deathtraps, or sit by and watch them die slowly and very, very painfully.

The grisly shoot is taking an emotional toll on Macfadyen. "When you're doing these things, you think, 'Jesus, these things actually happen for real, there are people who do the most awful things to other people,' " he said.

"And you go, 'How can you do that? How does someone take someone's head and shove it into a bathtub full of feces and drown them in it?' I just don't get it."

Fans don't seem to care. The first two Saw movies were made on a combined budget of about $6 million US, and took in more than $130 million at the box office, plus tens of millions more on DVD. Bousman, who also helmed the last film, has high hopes for number three.

"I would say the most tame parts of Saw III are (equal to) the most extreme parts of Saw II," he said.

"It's going to be interesting to see if we get away with half the things we're shooting right now. I'm even offended looking at what I'm shooting at the moment."

Sunday, June 04, 2006

With his new apprentice Amanda (Shawnee Smith), the puppet-master behind the cruel, intricate games that have terrified a community and baffled police has once again eluded capture and vanished. While city detectives scramble to locate him, Doctor Lynn Denlon (Bahar Soomekh) is unaware that she is about to become the latest pawn on his vicious chessboard.

One night, after finishing a shift at her hospital, Lynn is kidnapped and taken to an abandoned warehouse where she meets Jigsaw (Tobin Bell), bedridden and on the verge of death. She is told that she must keep the madman alive for as long as it takes Jeff (Angus Macfayden), another of his victims, to complete a game of his own. Racing against the ticking clock of Jigsaw's own heartbeat, Lynn and Jeff struggle to make it through each of their vicious tests, unaware that he has a much bigger plan for both of them...

Sunday, May 07, 2006

Friends! It has been a LONG WHILE since we last spoke. But - WE'RE BAAAAAACK!!!! That's right in about a week we start shooting SAW III. Please trust me when I tell you - this one is not for the squeamish! Forget all of these horror films that claim to be gory and scary - SAW III is the REAL DEAL - we have a TON of violence, gore, a few surprises and oh yes, TRAPS!!!!

I have to tell you all I just got back from the special effects house who will be building all of the body parts and gore for the film. I nearly vomited. Some of the macabre things we have in store for you will make SAW II look like a children’s film!

There is so much I want to tell you - but where is the fun in that? I think I will make you wait!

In the meantime - stay tuned!

Click on the button on the sidebar if you want to go to the HOJ fourms!

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Bloody Disguisiting wrote up a article that also includes who's starring in it.....

God bless Lionsgate and their development team. You'd think that how fast they pump out their movies they'd be half-assed crapola-- only they're not. Last year Lionsgate release Darren Lynn Bousman's Saw II almost exactly one year after James Wan and Leigh Whannel's Saw became an instant box office hit. Now here we are six months later already prepping for the release of Saw III, which hits theaters October 27th, 2006. Today the official website was launched, which carries a nice teaser logo and a forum to start talking all things Saw. Yesterday we broke the news (here) that Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Bahar Soomekh, Angus Macfadyen and Dina Meyer will star. Watch this spot for more news as it comes in. 'Saw III' is currently in pre-production in Toronto, Canada- shooting begins Monday.

Thursday, May 04, 2006

After the huge success of Saw II, it was announced a few months back that Darren Lynn Bousman will return to direct Lionsgate's Saw III. It was also revealed that co-creator Leigh Whannell will be returning to script the film for the third time, and that stars Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith would be returning to the extremely popular franchise. As the film is aiming to hit theaters October 27th, 2006, we're still awaiting to hear what the film will be about... but until then we've got some exclusive casting news for you inside! Read on and enjoy. More news as it comes in...

We were informed this morning from an anonymous scooper that TV veteran Angus Macfadyen (Redline) will star as a new character in the Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II) directed SAW III, which is currently being written by Leigh Whannell.

In addition, the insanely gorgeous Bahar Soomekh (Crash, Mission: Impossible III) will also be joining the cast alongside Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith.

We contacted Darren Bousman to confirm the scoop and to our surprise we got a quick little quote from him and Whannell, who are hard at work on the script. "It's the most f-cked up of Jigsaw's games... and the most psychologically intense," they tell Bloody-Disgusting.

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

If you think having a new Saw movie come out every year is intense, imagine being one of the actors. These guys get tortured on an annual basis. On top of that, they don't even get to read the script. With one month to go before shooting Saw III, Shawnee Smith has no idea what's in store for her.

"I'm still waiting to read a script," she complains. "How can I prepare as an actress with no script?"

Expect Smith's role to grow, too. She has gone from one scene in Saw to becoming the baddie Jigsaw's right-hand chick in Saw II. With Jigsaw in the last throes of cancer, she's going to have to start kicking ass on her own.

"I don't know how you top the first one, but from what I hear, they've done it again," she tells us. "I don't want to jinx anything, so we'll see what happens." Yes, we will.

ONLINESAW.COMThis is suppose to be an "OFFICIAL" fan site for SAW........if anyone who is pulling the string is reading this.....PLEASE CONTACT ME!!! I want to take part in the official saw fan site =D

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Ok... So I actually lived out a horror film yesterday... I had a flight out of LA at 9:22 to Toronto... I had a car picking me up at 6:00am.... Lets cut to 7:30 that morning and I roll of my couch... I passed out watching LOST episodes I Tivoed and forgot to set an ALARM... So I FREAK quickly grab my bags - and my two pets and FLY out the door...

7:35 - I am curbside and as luck would have it the driver is still out there patiently waiting... He calmly exits the car and says "Late night sir..." to which I respond "Pretend your James Bond driving in a high speed chase and get me to LAX"

7:36 - HIGH SPEED DRIVING BEGINS - twisting and turning through North Hollywood...

7:37 - GRIDLOCK TRAFFIC... We aint moving...

So now there is no way in hell we are getting from Studio City to LAX by 9:22 let alone the one hour prior I need for check in... I fall back against the seat exasperated and sigh... The driver tilts his mirror a little to get a good look at me...

"You okay" he asks...

I respond "Afraid I missed my flight"

He smiles and goes - I used to be in the military and I am never late... and with that my man went into hyper drive taking back streets, dirt roads and gravel paths...

8:45 arrive at LAX (keep in mind my flight leaves at 9:22) I bolt from the car after hugging the driver who has now become my best friend (side note - if I ever plan a heist he will be my driver) and rush to the terminal...

8:46 MASSIVE LINE - I panic... Not making my flight... not making my flight... not making my flight... THEN A VOICE... the voice of angel??? no not an angel... I know this voice... THE DRIVER????

"MY MAN HAS A FLIGHT TO MAKE - MY MAN HAS A FLIGHT TO MAKE make room people... and with that the driver pushes his way through the crowd, and SOMEHOW gets me to the front of the line...

8:48 TICKET COUNTER... I show my passport - the ticket lady looks at her watch - "Sir that flight is already boarding..." she sees the pain in my eyes... then turns to see the "don't fuck with me" look in the drivers eyes... "Ok... we have to hurry... Put we have a small problem..."

"What problem" I ask...

"It's to cold to board your dog in CARGO..."

Now people - You have all met my dog CHANCE in a previous blogg... Now meet my cat ZOE...

Don't let the picture fool you... She is an angry bitter cat who sometimes I believe is plotting my death...

So in one hand I have my cat... in the other my dog...

"Well sir, all I can offer is that you take one pet on as a carry on item and have the other sent to you at a later time..." the ticket lady says.

So I stand - at a crossroads... which child do I pick... The cute puppy who is still just a baby??? Or the cat who will kill in my sleep if I anger her in any way?

8:50 - My heart breaks as I make my choice...

8:51 - I hand the other pet to the driver who is to bring it to Evolution to deal with sending it to me...

9:00 - Bags are checked...

9:10 - Make it through security...

9:15 - Make it on the plane...

So... which animal did I choose????

So yes, Darren is back in toronto getting the pre-production of SAW III started.

P.S.: Fans of SAW! Send in your questions and more to sawtheblog@gmail.com and have them answerd on the site! So far I only have ONE email and I know this site gets more then ONE hit a day (I know that as a fact :P)

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Original Creative Team Reunited For Next Film In Twisted And Lionsgate’s Saw Franchise; Film to be Dedicated to Late Twisted Pictures Principal And Saw Producer Gregg Hoffman

Saw Franchise Has Grossed Nearly $250 Million In Worldwide Box Office And Sold Nearly 10 Million DVD’s To Date For Lionsgate

SANTA MONICA, CA, and VANCOUVER, BC, March 2, 2006 – Lionsgate (NYSE and TSX: LGF), the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, and Twisted Pictures today announced plans to develop and produce Saw III, the next film in the psychologically intense and disturbing horror franchise, for an October 27, 2006 wide release. The film will be directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II), with story by Leigh Whannell and James Wan (Saw, Saw II)and screenplay by Whannell. (Note from Lee[Owner of SAW the Blog]: THIS IS GOING TO BE AWESOME)The Twisted Pictures team of Mark Burg and Oren Koules will return as producers with Whannell and Wan set to executive produce. The announcement was made by Peter Block, Lionsgate President of Acquisitions and Co-productions, Jason Constantine, Lionsgate Senior VP of Acquisitions, and the Twisted Pictures team of Mark Burg and Oren Koules.

Saw II set a Lionsgate record with a three-day opening weekend of $31.7 million last Halloween, becoming the widest release in Lionsgate history and achieving one of the best opening weekends ever for a horror sequel. With a domestic box office of over $87 million and more than $148 million in worldwide theatrical box office, Saw II easily eclipsed the $55 million domestic box office total of the original Saw. Saw and Saw II have grossed nearly $250 million in combined worldwide box office.

Saw II debuted as the #1 DVD in North America two weeks ago, becoming the fastest-selling theatrical DVD release in Lionsgate history with 3.9 million units sold in its first week alone. The movie was also released on VHS and UMD. The Saw franchise has sold nearly 10 million units to date for Lionsgate.

“Yes, there will be more blood,” said Block and Constantine. “Saw III will involve the same creative forces responsible for the tremendous success of Saw II. The Twisted team of Mark and Oren, along with Darren, James and Leigh, have all agreed to be prominently involved in Saw III. We are proud to be partnered with some of the most disturbing creative talents on the planet, and the Saw franchise will ensure that gore becomes every bit as much a Halloween staple as ghosts, goblins and candy corn.” Block noted that the film will be dedicated to Twisted Pictures principal and Saw producer Gregg Hoffman, who passed away in November 2005.

“We have been discussing story lines that extend the Saw franchise to new limits and beyond with Lionsgate for the past several months,” said Burg and Koules. “The most important element of any franchise is remaining true to the roots of its success. We believe that we are developing a script that is certain to please the Saw franchise’s core fans while adding fresh, terrifying and unimaginable new twists to the Saw saga. Jigsaw himself would be proud.”

Lionsgate is the premier independent producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library is a valuable source of recurring revenue and a foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.Twisted Pictures is helmed by Mark Burg and Oren Koules. Saw, one of the most profitable films of 2004, was their first picture under the new label and was also distributed by Lionsgate. Twisted is currently in postproduction on Catacombs, the first film under the previously-announced nine-picture deal between Twisted and Lionsgate, and is in production on Silence for Universal Pictures.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

First-time feature film director, Darren Lynn Bousman, couldn’t have been handed a more challenging film to do: the sequel to the horrifying “Saw”. But for those who saw it in the theater as well as those who WILL see it when it is released on DVD on Valentine’s Day (how appropriate), Bousman was more than up to the challenge of continuing the crimes of Jigsaw. He was adept at developing even more brutal means of dispatching the many characters in “Saw II” due to his love of “disturbing” horror. Things look good for horror fans when “Saw III’ comes out this October.

BD: Hello Darren and thank you for taking time to talk with Bloody-Disgusting. I have read that you are originally from Overland Park, Kansas. How did a “nice” Mid-Western boy end up directing one of the horrific films of 2005?

DLB: Growing up, I always wanted to be an actor and after high school, I went to Kansas University and studied acting. But a friend of mine went to Full Sail, the film school in Orlando, Florida and when I went to visit him, I was hooked. So I transferred there and received my film degree in 2001.

BD: How did you transfer from student to short films to music videos to “Saw II”?

DLB: I had a group of friends and we were determined to go to LA. I did a couple of short films: “Butterfly Dreams” (2000) and “Identity Lost” (2001) but on both shorts, we ran out of money. But for “Identity Lost”, a friend of mine suddenly inherited a large trust and literally wrote a check for $60,000. And on “Butterfly Dreams”, my friend, editor Hunter Via, financed the rest of the film with money he and his fiancee had saved for their wedding. Both guys were paid back!!

We headed out to LA from Florida and the first job I got was on “The X Files”. That didn’t last too long, about 7 or 8 episodes, as one I was assigned to keep track of one of the actors and I thought he was in the honey wagon so I waited outside, working on a script of my own. When someone came looking for the actor and discovered that not only was he not the person in the honey wagon but that I was not doing my job, I was asked to leave. But I did get to meet Gillian Anderson and Robert Patrick – here’s an interesting bit of…synchronicity. Robert Patrick’s brother Richard used to be in Nine Inch Nails with the composer for “Saw” and “Saw II”, Charlie Clouser.

BD: How did you come to be involved in “Saw II”?

DLB: Well, when I was “asked to leave” “The X Files”, one of the things I was doing that they didn’t appreciate was that I was working on a script of my own. And I decided to write THE most disturbing story I could. Something that when people read it, they would be so upset. That script was “The Desperate” and after tons of rejections by “upset people”, I finally met an agent who loved it and that got me a lawyer. “The Desperate” is similar in structure to “Saw II” and when I met Leigh Whannell – well, let’s just say we’re both interesting but disturbed. I wish someone had recorded the conversations I had with him as well as with him AND Eli Roth! We probably would have all been arrested.

Between Leigh and myself, “Saw II” came into being – quite a few of the elements of “The Desperate” were kept in the “Saw II” script: the characters, the traps, ALL of the deaths.

BD: How much preproduction time did you have for “Saw II”?

DLB: We had two months to get ready.

BD: Did the script’s twists and turns at the end exist early on in rewrites and are there seed of “Saw III” in “Saw II” that we may or may not know about?

DLB: Yes, those twists and turns were there early and yes also to there being the seeds of “Saw III” in the current film. Actually, “Saw III” is set to be released this October but that’s all I will say about that. Except that James, Leigh and I will all be involved in some capacity.

BD: How would you compare your directing style to that of James Wan?

DLB: We both had similar influences and there are definitely hints of “Saw” in “Saw II”. I would say the styling and editing are different but David Armstrong DP’d both films so that dirty, grimy, gritty look is still there.

BD: How did the untimely death of producer Gregg Hoffman in December 2005 affect you?

DLB: I owe my career to Gregg. He was truly on of the “good guys” in Hollywood. I was so disheartened by the business until I met Gregg and he sold me on Twisted Pictures. He had nothing to gain by taking a risk on me but he did. I will never forget him

BD: How has the success of “Saw II” changed your life?

DLB: It has made me realize that anything is possible. The world opens up, people are paying attention and I can now “pollute” the world with MY vision (laughs).

BD: What new projects are you working on now?

DLB: I have two pictures with Dimension Films – one is entitled “Threshold”, based on the French-Canadian film “Evil Words”, and will be written by Stephen Susco who wrote the remake of “The Grudge”. The other is still called “The Untitled Horror Project”.

BD: What is your opinion on the state of horror today? Particularly the PG-13 versus R rated films that are being released, many to dismal box office.

DLB: I think the studios want to appease everyone and some films, like “The Grudge”, should be PG-13. But in order to appease everyone, the studios HAVE to also release R rated movies, like “Hostel”, “Saw” or “The Devil’s Rejects”. But THEN you get religious groups attacking the movie business.

BD: What advice would you give to up-and-coming filmmakers?

DLB: Well, I am a classic example that anything can happen. It’s what you make out of it – I wouldn’t and won’t do anything outside of the entertainment industry. If I had taken a job as a bartender in LA, I might as well have moved back to Kansas.

BD: What would be your “dream project” as a filmmaker, in any genre?

DLB: Making any movie that challenges people is one “dream” but also, as I am a huge “Rocky Horror” fan, I would love to make a horror rock opera film

BD: What are some of your favorite horror movies?

DLB: Wow, that’s a tough one! I would have to say “Audition”, “Ichi the Killer”, “The Last House on the Left” and early Polanski.

BD: Do you have any favorite horror authors?

DLB: I love Stephen King’s “Pet Sematary” as well as a book called “Dirty White Boys” by Stephen Hunter. A great thriller! And I also love to read true crime.

BD: What is one thing no one knows about Darren Lynn Bousman that you think they should know?

DLB: Well, my middle name is my dad’s name and I use it professionally to honor him. I have seen every single episode of “Law and Order: SVU”, I have a black belt in Tai Kwan Do and I’m addicted to coffee. I can’t go to sleep unless I have some coffee!

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Hey everyone! Im getting ready for SAW news and information (The DVD for SAW II is OUT go get it! [hurry because I haven't been able to see a place where it is not sold out] Now!) but I thought I might start a "SAW Mailbag" Send me your questions via email and Ill answer them....be sure to include a name/nickname! Send all emails to:

SAWtheBlog@gmail.com

And I will be sure to answer them! I don't think this will take off immediatly but Im sure once its started going the questions will start pouring in. Until later. Im Out.....oh and heres an example:

Hey, I was wondering if you think SAW III will be the last movie? If so, why?-John S.

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Over at Bloody-Disgusting they got a word in with Darren (director & writer of SAW II)and here's what they said:After the passing of the legendary Gregg Hoffman, whom is one of the founders of Twisted Pictures, genre fans have been asking the question "will we still see Saw III in theaters by October 2006?" Today BD reporter Elaine Lamkin talked one-on-one with Darren Lynn Bousman, director of Saw II who not only confirmed that 'Saw III' WILL be released this October (tentatively the 27th), but that he, and Saw co-creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell will be involved in it in some capacity. More news when we post our interview with Darren soon. 'Saw II' hits DVD on February 14th, just in time for your honeys.

Sunday, February 05, 2006

So, The SAW II DVD is coming out and SAW the Blog is still running :D. Anyway Im getting into the article writing mood so I am going to write some articles along with the news that is coming out with SAW III....Saw the blog, all saw news, all the time! Anyway I found some images on the internet of the dvd menu screens, check it out: